5 Jaw-Dropping Facts About Kendra Licari And 'Unknown Number: The High School Catfish'

The true crime world was once again shaken to its core by the release of the Netflix documentary, Unknown Number: The High School Catfish, which continues to be a major talking point in the media as of December 14, 2025. This gripping film dives into a disturbing case of prolonged cyberstalking and harassment that plagued a high school couple, ultimately revealing a perpetrator whose identity was far closer and more shocking than anyone could have imagined. Directed by true-crime veteran Skye Borgman, the documentary meticulously unspools the two-year ordeal of a teenage girl and her boyfriend, whose lives were turned upside down by a relentless stream of anonymous, vulgar, and taunting texts.

The core of the story revolves around Lauryn Licari and her then-boyfriend, Owen McKenny, who became the targets of a vicious online campaign that seemed to have no end. What began as simple, unsettling messages quickly escalated into a full-blown cyberbullying and stalking nightmare, involving hundreds of messages, threats, and attempts to dismantle their lives. The true horror of the case, however, lies in the stunning revelation that the source of the harassment—the "unknown number"—was not a rival classmate or a stranger, but Lauryn’s own mother, Kendra Licari. This betrayal of trust and the subsequent legal fallout form the basis of the must-watch true crime documentary.

The Shocking Profile: Who is Kendra Licari?

Kendra Licari, the central figure and perpetrator in the "High School Catfish" case, became infamous for her calculated and sustained campaign of cyber-harassment against her daughter, Lauryn Licari, and her boyfriend, Owen McKenny. The documentary explores the bizarre motive and the devastating impact of her actions, which took place over nearly two years in Isabella County, Michigan.

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Kendra Licari: Biography and Case Timeline

• Full Name: Kendra Gail Licari
• Age (at time of sentencing): 42 years old
• Location: Isabella County, Michigan
• Victims: Lauryn Licari (Daughter) and Owen McKenny (Lauryn's then-boyfriend)
• Timeline of Harassment: The cyberbullying campaign lasted for nearly two years, beginning around late 2020.
• The Catfish Act: Kendra Licari used virtual private networks (VPNs) and other sophisticated tools to mask her identity, sending thousands of anonymous texts and social media messages. The messages were often vulgar, threatening, and designed to cause emotional distress and break up the relationship between Lauryn and Owen.
• Initial Involvement: The case is particularly shocking because Kendra initially worked alongside her daughter and husband, Shawn Licari, to report the harassment to the police and school officials, actively participating in the "investigation" of her own crime.
• Arrest and Charges: Following a joint investigation by the local police and the FBI, Kendra Licari was identified as the perpetrator. She was charged with five felony counts, including two counts of stalking a minor and three counts of using a computer to commit a crime.
• Plea and Sentencing: Kendra Licari pled guilty on March 22 to two counts of stalking a minor and one count of using a computer to commit a crime (three other charges were dropped). She was sentenced to 19 months to five years in prison.
• Motive: While an explicit, clear-cut motive remains elusive and heavily debated, the documentary and case files suggest a complex mix of factors, including a desire for control over her daughter's life and relationship, and potentially an underlying psychological disorder.

The Two-Year Nightmare: A Deep Dive into the Harassment

The harassment campaign detailed in Unknown Number: The High School Catfish was not a fleeting incident but a sustained, psychological assault. The sheer volume and nature of the messages highlight the perpetrator's relentless nature. The teenagers, Lauryn Licari and Owen McKenny, endured a constant barrage of anonymous texts, social media messages, and posts designed to sow discord and fear.

The messages often contained private, sensitive, and false information about the victims, suggesting the harasser was someone with intimate knowledge of their lives. This level of detail is what led investigators to initially suspect a close friend or classmate. The psychological toll on the high school couple was immense, causing severe emotional distress, anxiety, and a breakdown of trust within their social circle and, eventually, their family.

The complexity of the case grew as Kendra Licari, the perpetrator, actively participated in the search for the anonymous harasser. She would often show the messages to her husband, Shawn Licari, and the police, feigning shock and concern. This masterful deception prolonged the investigation and deepened the emotional damage to her daughter, who was unknowingly seeking comfort from the person causing her pain. The use of advanced technology, such as VPNs and burner apps, made the digital trail difficult to follow, adding layers of intrigue to the case and solidifying its status as a landmark cybercrime investigation.

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The Investigation and The FBI's Involvement

The case gained national attention due to the inability of local authorities to track down the sophisticated harasser, leading to the involvement of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The investigation was a complex digital forensic undertaking, focusing on tracking the digital footprint left by the "unknown number."

How the Catfish Was Unmasked

• Digital Forensics: The FBI's technical expertise was crucial. They employed advanced digital forensics to analyze the metadata, IP addresses, and routing information associated with the voluminous text messages and social media accounts.
• The VPN Clue: Kendra Licari utilized a virtual private network (VPN) to mask her location and identity, but the FBI was eventually able to trace the VPN usage back to the Licari household's internet connection.
• The Device Connection: Further investigation and search warrants allowed law enforcement to connect the harassment accounts to devices owned and operated by Kendra Licari. This physical evidence, combined with the digital trail, provided irrefutable proof.
• The Confession: Faced with overwhelming evidence, Kendra Licari eventually confessed to the cyberstalking and catfishing campaign. The confession confirmed the worst fears of the victims and the investigators: the person they trusted most was the one causing the pain.

The unmasking of Kendra Licari served as a powerful, albeit tragic, example of the hidden dangers of cyberbullying and the lengths to which a perpetrator will go to conceal their identity. It also highlighted the critical role of specialized law enforcement agencies, like the FBI, in solving complex digital crimes.

The Legacy of the Case: Cybercrime and Parental Control

The true story of the *Unknown Number: The High School Catfish* has transcended the typical true crime narrative, becoming a significant case study in modern cybercrime, especially concerning parental control and psychological abuse. The documentary, directed by Skye Borgman, who is also known for other impactful true crime films like *Abducted in Plain Sight* and *Girl in the Picture*, is a stark warning to parents and teens about the realities of online harassment.

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Kendra Licari’s actions raised profound questions about the psychological state of the perpetrator and the extreme lengths some parents may go to control their children's lives. Legal experts and psychologists have debated the underlying motives, often citing issues of Munchausen syndrome by proxy or a deep-seated need for attention and control. Her sentence of 19 months to five years was seen by some as too lenient for the severity of the emotional and psychological trauma inflicted on her daughter and Owen McKenny.

The case has also had a lasting impact on the victims. Lauryn Licari and Owen McKenny, along with Lauryn's father, Shawn Licari, bravely participated in the Netflix documentary to share their story, hoping to raise awareness about the insidious nature of catfishing and cyberbullying. Their participation has turned the documentary into an urgent warning, encouraging victims to speak out and for law enforcement to treat online harassment with the seriousness it deserves. The Licari case, now immortalized in the true crime genre, will remain a chilling reminder of how the most dangerous threats can emerge from the most trusted sources.